The City of Morden is charting its path forward with a new strategic plan that was introduced at a public forum Monday.
Mayor Nancy Penner, council members and city staff were on hand at the Access Event Centre to meet with residents and field questions.
The strategic plan identified four key areas: quality of life, municipal services and infrastructure, economic growth and development and then leadership, partnership, and collaboration.
“Those four pillars are sort of areas that we want to focus on as we go forward, laying out the future for the community,” said Penner.
In her presentation, Penner touched on the aim of being dedicated to fostering a vibrant community that cultivates innovation and prosperity.
She noted the strategic plan will “serve as the foundation for our decision making, ensuring that our leadership is guided by integrity and purpose.
“Morden is a community where people feel safe, engaged and empowered. We will continue to promote initiatives that support a safe and healthy community.”
Penner emphasized the importance of such goals as building collaboration and sustaining the necessary infrastructure.
“The success of our city is built on strong partnerships,” she said, citing the need to strengthen communication and relationships with key stakeholders and municipal partners. “We can achieve more together than we ever could alone.”
The four pillars of the plan break down into a number of goals:
Quality of life
• Promote initiatives which contribute to a safe and healthy community.
• Sustain, enhance and expand local recreation, community service and active living opportunities.
• Promote existing local amenities through collaboration and investment.
Municipal services and infrastructure
• Achieve water security in terms of availability, accessibility and sustainability of quality fresh water and wastewater resources.
• Sustain, renew and enhance municipal infrastructure.
• Increase resident engagement with municipal services.
• Elevate climate action opportunities.
Economic growth and development
• Support the retention and expansion of existing businesses.
• Attract new businesses with an emphasis on new industrial employers.
• Support access to skilled labour for employers and skills development for employees.
Leadership, partnership and collaboration
• Enhance city communications.
• Renew partnerships with local stakeholders.
• Establish regional co-operation across key areas.
Penner touched on why having the strategic plan is important.
“I think having a road map going forward is important,” she said. “We can all look at good ideas and oh, let’s do this and let’s do that, but just having a road map, looking forward and then going back and being accountable and saying does this fit into our strategic plan? Are we going down the right road?
“So when we do ideas, we look at budget … but does it fit into our strategic plan,” she said. “As we move forward, are we meeting our goals? Are we doing the best for our community that we possibly can?”
Penner felt the public forum was worthwhile and stressed council is always open to hearing from Morden residents.
“We had very good feedback from a few people who were just pleased with how the city is being run and some of the positive things that are happening,” she said.
“I think there’s always opportunity … there’s always the opportunity to either come before council and have a delegation come before council and bring a concern,” Penner added, citing the example of the regular Meet the Mayor and Council get-togethers as well as how all council members can be contacted by e-mail. “Communication is a big concern of council, that we are communicating with the citizens.”
